Why did Allah prohibit taking the majority as a factor for deciding what is right or wrong?

‘If you obey the majority of those on earth, they will lead you away from the way of Allah. They follow nothing but assumptions and they do nothing but lie.’

[6:116]

Allah mentioned 21 reasons for why the majority is a false standard in Islam.

  1. Allah informed us that the majority leads one away from Allah’s path. Allah said: ‘If you obey the majority of those on earth, they will lead you away from the way of Allah.’ [6:116]
  2. Allah informed us that the majority follows nothing but assumptions. Allah said: ‘If you obey the majority of those on earth, they will lead you away from the way of Allah. They follow nothing but assumptions.’ [6:116]
  3. Allah informed us that the majority do nothing but lie. Allah said: ‘If you obey the majority of those on earth, they will lead you away from the way of Allah. They follow nothing but assumptions and they do nothing but lie.’ [6:116]
  4. Allah informed us that the majority show ungratefulness towards Allah. Allah said: ‘But the majority of people are ungrateful.’ [2:243]
  5. Allah informed us that the majority are defiants. Allah said: ‘Some of them believe, but the majority of them are defiants.’ [3:100]
  6. Allah informed us that the majority are rebellious. Allah said: ‘Our Messengers came to them with clear signs, but the majority of them–even after this–continued to exceed the limits on earth.’ [5:32]
  7. Allah informed us that the majority rush to sin. Allah said: ‘You will see the majority of them rushing into sin and transgression, and consuming unlawful earnings. Terrible indeed is what they do!’ [5:62]
  8. Allah informed us that the majority falls into disbelief. Allah said: ‘What has been sent down to you from your Lord will surely increase the majority of them in transgression and disbelief.’ [5:64]
  9. Allah informed us that the majority are upon the wrong path. Allah said: ‘Among them are some who are on the right way, but the majority of them do evil deeds.’ [5:66]
  10. Allah informed us that the majority refuse to acknowledge the truth. Allah said: ‘They thought that there would be no consequences, so they became blind and deaf [to the truth]. Then Allah forgave them, but again the majority of them became blind and deaf.’ [5:71]
  11. Allah informed us that the majority take the people of misguidance and innovation as allies. Allah said: ‘You see the majority of them taking those who disbelieve as allies.’ [5:80]
  12. Allah informed us that the majority do not understand. Allah said: ‘The majority of them do not understand.’ [5:103]
  13. Allah informed us that the majority do not have knowledge. Allah said: ‘But the majority of them do not know.’ [6:37]
  14. Allah informed us that the majority are ignorants. Allah said: ‘But the majority of them are ignorants.’ [6:111]
  15. Allah informed us that the majority follow desires. Allah said: ‘Indeed, the majority leads others astray by their desires, without any knowledge.’ [6:119]
  16. Allah informed us that the majority follows conjecture. Allah said: ‘But the majority of them follow conjecture. Verily, conjectures are of no avail against the truth. [10:36]
  17. Allah informed us that the majority do not believe. Allah said: ‘But the majority of people will not believe, no matter how eager you may be.’ [12:103]
  18. Allah informed us that the majority associate partners with Allah. Allah said: ‘And the majority of them do not believe in Allah except that they associate partners with Him.’ [12:106]
  19. Allah informed us that the majority dislike the truth. Allah said: ‘And the majority of them dislike the truth.’ [23:70]
  20. Allah informed us that the majority are liars. Allah said: ‘And the majority of them are liars.’ [26:223]
  21. Allah informed us that the majority do not listen to the truth. Allah said: ‘The majority of them turn away and do not listen.’ [41:4]

All of these 21 evidences are summarized in the concise Hadith of the Prophet:

‘There will never cease to exist a small faction from my Ummah who will adhere steadfastly to the command of Allah, and those who oppose them [i.e. the majority] will not be able to harm them.’

Ibn Majah 7; Sahih

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